The Hindu : National : EC for Jharkhand poll before Christmas

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Sunday, Oct 25, 2009
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EC for Jharkhand poll before Christmas

J. Balaji

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission wants to finish the Jharkhand Assembly elections before Christmas, as nearly 40 per cent of the population in the State is Christian.

This is one of the reasons why the Commission fixed the last phase of the five phase Assembly polls on December 18, at least a week before Christmas, a top official said in response to a question on why the Commission had announced the poll dates the day after the counting of the Assembly election votes in three States had completed.

The date could not be set beyond Christmas or the new year considering severe cold during that time.

Moreover, the Home Ministry had requested that the Commission complete the election process before the expiry of the extended term of the President’s rule on January 18, 2010.

Poll dates

Asked why the poll dates were announced even before President Pratibha Patil signed the order (signed on Saturday) approving dissolution of Jharkhand Assembly with effect from November 1, the official said that during the last six months before the expiry of the term of the Assembly or the Lok Sabha, the Commission had powers to call for elections whenever it deemed appropriate and convenient.

“It is well within our right to call for election during the six month period before the expiry of the term of the Assembly.”

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